Holly is a symbol of goodwill and joy. In the Victorian language of flowers, holly means foresight. Holly is seen as a symbol of good luck in both Christianity and Islam. But most importantly for me, it is said that disputes are often solved "under the holly tree"

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Saturday, April 14, 2007

"Islam, Empire of Faith" Three Part Video History

The three videos below have been out now for six years. They are produced by PBS and have won acclaim throughout the Muslim world. I offer them here to view either now or later at your liesure. In the current state of misunderstanding about Islam, it is in EVERYONE'S best interest who is unfamiliar with Islam to learn more in order to promote peace rather than discord. Unfortunately, something is going on over on youtube because it WAS broken down into the three parts individually, but now for some reason it isn't. So there is some overlap between the first video and the second, but the third, "The Ottomans" stands alone in it's entirity. I suggest to anyone wanting to view this, they download it and burn it to watch anytime.

Empire of FaithPBS documentary looks at the history and contributions of the Islamic world.

On Tuesday evening, May 8th,(2001) members stations of the U.S.-based Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) aired the new documentary Islam: Empire of Faith. Muslim scholars, community leaders, and activists screened the film before it aired, and gave positive reports about its balance and accuracy.

The first one-hour segment ("The Messenger") introduces the story of the rise of Islam, and the extraordinary life of the Prophet Muhammad. It covers the revelation of the Qur'an, the persecution suffered by the early Muslims, the first mosques, and then the rapid expansion of Islam.

The second segment ("The Awakening") examines the growth of Islam into a world civilization. Through trade and learning, the Islamic influence extended further. Muslims made great achievements in architecture, medicine, and science, influencing the intellectual development of the West. This episode also explores the story of the Crusades (including stunning reenactments filmed in Iran), and ends with the invasion of Islamic lands by the Mongols.

The final segment ("The Ottomans") looks at the dramatic rise and fall of the Ottoman empire.All three episodes aired back-to-back on Tuesday evening. If you missed it, a video of the series is available for purchase from PBS.

Islamic leaders who viewed the documentary expressed appreciation for "the network's efforts to offer a balanced and accurate portrayal of Islamic history" (CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad). Series producer Robert Gardner was responsive to Muslim concerns about specific aspects of the film, particularly an artistic image of the Prophet Muhammad which was later removed.

Visit the links above to learn more about the program. PBS also offers an interactive website which provides educational materials based on the series. If you are outside the PBS viewing area, a home video and book of the series is available. After watching, please visit the Islam Forum for ongoing discussion of this program and other Islamic topics.